Ashfield Apothecary — Restaurant in Sydney

UPDATE (August 2025): Since I moved in the area, this has been my local coffee place. I also have food here from time to time. I had their burnt eggplant for lunch, and I was over the moon with it. When it arrived it looked good because of the large amount of eggplant mixed with roasted red capsicum and little blobs of a very nice salty feta. It came with a slice of toasted artesian bread, as long as my forearm. This was such a divine meal, that my eyes did not leave the plate until I gobbled a lot. To whom ever comes to this place I so totally recommend it. Be aware is only part of their winter menu. I did not take a picture of it, because I was so engrossed eating it that when I realised I should have taken one, there was none to take a pic of. I have learnt the names of the people working in here and they have learnt mine. This makes me feel welcome and just a local.

PREVIOUS REVIEW (Around February 2025) Good coffee here. I just moved to the area and seeking for good coffees to make my local. This one has potential. But I still have a few more to go before I decide. Food is good and interesting options. Some sort of donought that resembles "churros" in a circle. I did not yet try that, but in my list as it looks yummy and interesting. Instead I had the croi-nut (I think that's what they are called, you know the half croissant and halt donought. This one had a lemon cream fill. Delightfully fresh, crunchie, and the filling was a good mix of sweetness and tartiness. Price I found a bit expensive, but then I saw it as worth the experience. The service was casual. Peeps behind the counter were busy doing stuff. I was acknowladged by a look and a hint of a head shake to let me know they noticed my entry. When I ordered the guy asked if I wanted it have here or take away. I did say the place was busy and that unless I sit on someone's lap it might be difficult to have here. I got an acknowledgement to my attempt to be funny. Then he said that it might be a little of a wait, but tables do turn often. Decided to have in, went outside and found an available spot from someone that just left. When I walked back in to wait for my stuff, the guy noticed me and I mentioned I found a spot outside. He just said, go and sit there. I'll find you and bring it over. He did as he said only moments later I was handed my croi-nut. Then seconds later my coffee. Outside there is not much of a view, but a petrol station, a traffic light intersection of streets, and this Absolutely wonderful very large, very leafy, very green tree. But also, the constant flow of people. I love just watching life passing by, so this is not a bad comment on location. It was enjoyable. All in all great service, great coffee, good croi-nut and a great watching of life passing by. UPDATE June 2025 - I have become their regular. I get my coffee from here daily, and on weekends I seat to have a sweet or their Vegan Bowl. Great service by...

Ashfield Apothecary has been on our foodie hit list for a long time now. We see endless pictures from friends who go there and the dine in food menu appealed to us, as well as the Persian Love Cake. But living in the East and working full time has meant it took a while to get out there, especially because they are also closed on Sundays. However, being on leave from work gave us the opportunity to make a visit. We’re so glad we, because it was exceptional in every way. The quaint café, is only small, but would seat about 10 people inside, and a few on stools out front. We love the vintage décor, with the amazing feature clock, heritage tiles and rustic colours as well as all the decorative pieces inside. We instantly feel welcomed by staff as we arrive, being seated at a table, promptly taken our coffee order and staff continue to follow up on our order and how we find our meal. We think the service here is A class.

Food wise, there’s plenty of options we’d happily order, but I had my heart set on porridge, Kurt opts for the mushroom dish. Now I have spent the most part of the 2021 winter eating possibly every porridge on every café menu and the one at Ashfield Apothecary is my favourite so far. Their “coconut crumble porridge” is a lovely bowl of organic oats and chia made on coconut milk, served with saffron spiced poached rhubarb and apple topped with a homemade coconut crumble. The flavours all worked perfectly together, and the crumble provided a good crunch to it. The use of coconut makes it a vegan dish too which means it can suit all diners.

Kurt has the mushrooms on toast, which is their roasted mix mushrooms and fresh herbs, flavoured with fresh herbs, truffle butter and served with whipped Meredith goats cheese. We add a soft boiled egg for a protein hit and Kurt enjoys this dish greatly.

If you’re interested in what else is on offer, there is a pastrami sandwich, smashed avo, a brekkie burger, burnt eggplant or a vegan bowl. If you have dietary requirements, this place is great for there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as the ability to replace the bread with Nonie’s Gluten Free bread. Their display case also has pastries if you want something small, and we recommend visiting on a Friday or Saturday for the famous Persian Love Cake, which is undoubtedly our favourite one around. Light and fluffy with the delicious pistachio and rosewater flavours shining through.

For drinks, coffee here is great, they use Single O for the milk based and the barista is evidently taking care in his work, both in brewing the perfect cup and delivering it with some quality latte art. If you aren’t a coffee drinker, there’s shakes, smoothies, cold pressed juice, iced tea...

Today, i dropped by this nice cafe, used to be very good service. As i entered there was a mixed race barista being trained? she looked at me as though she couldn't care any less about greeting or smiling at customers. And continued to ignore and appeared her job was to be hostile to customers.

Well as the Nepali men were very polite as usual otherwise i would have left. I left no tip for this reason. Because poor behaviour by this woman didn't make me feel good to be in her bad energy.

I ordered an extra hot coffee and the boy wrote it down. But she brought notb hot enough beccause she was busy chatting than serving me as soon as it was made.

She brought the coffee , and dropped it on the as though she paid for my coffee 🤣

I did not thank her intentionally because being a brown person myself I do not reward poor customer service.How can customers come, perhaps you have regulars but not treating all cistomers politely is simply ignorance and poor management.

Then she did the second round to bring my coffee but it was sooo watery.

So poor service, this woman does need training in customer service and cannot make quality cofee.

Either she's inexperienced or ignorant that she intentionally made weak because i returned the coffee. I had coffee many times here, and maybe under the previous management and i know the boys made good coffee. I generally eat here but didn't bother giving you my money for such poor standard service from this woman.

You are in customer service, if you cannot treat customers politely, likeky to fail in the long run.

So train this woman , otherwise send her to the kitchen if she has issues with self respect. Often people treat customers poorly because of their own...